FECC Returns To Vilnius

Only two years after the second generation of FIBA Europe Coaching Certificate students witnessed Jonas Valanciunas lift the trophy of the U18 European Championship, the FECC returns to Lithuania's capital.

From 13-19 August, the third generation of the three-year-programme will again enjoy lectures by top-level coaches and external experts.

The busy schedule also gives the 56 attending coaches the opportunity to watch high-level competition at the U18 European Championship in between lectures and group work which is usually not completed before late at night.

There will also be Pablo Laso, the Real Madrid head coach who steered the royals to a Copa Del Rey (the Spanish cup) triumph and into an extremely exciting finals series with arch rivals FC Barcelona.

Greek coach Kostas Missas, who, among other achievements, has won the U20 European Championship in 2009 and Slovenian coach Janez Drvaric are the other coaches sharing their knowledge with the students.

Human behavioural consultant and trainer Aysim Altay completes the group of lecturers. She has most recently worked with Brose Baskets Bamberg before their historical third double of domestic league and cup and also made a name for herself working with the Turkish football national team, ski racers and several multinational companies.

The participants, coming from countries from Albania to Ukraine, feature a couple of well-known faces in the basketball world, showing the great interest in the FECC throughout the continent.

Lithuania legend Saulius Stombergas knows all too well how it feels to win as a player and is now honing his coaching skills to share his knowledge with young players.

Uvis Helmanis has represented Latvia in as many as seven EuroBasket Final Rounds between 1997 and 2009 and is now coaching in his home country.